2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America: Recommended List
A reliable OAD selection of recommended gourmet casual restaurants in North America known for high-quality yet approachable dining.
Venues on this list
Tusk
Portland, United States
Tusk is a Pearl Recommended Middle Eastern restaurant on East Burnside with three consecutive years of Opinionated…
mae
Dublin, Ireland
Mae is a Michelin Plate-recognised tasting menu restaurant in Ballsbridge, operating exclusively during daytime hours…
Ad Hoc
Napa, United States
Ad Hoc is Thomas Keller's family-style American restaurant in Yountville — the most accessible entry point into the…
Knead Noods
Los Angeles, United States
Bruce Kalman's counter-service pasta stall inside Grand Central Market has earned three consecutive Opinionated About…
Brewery Bhavana
Raleigh, United States
Brewery Bhavana holds a 2025 Michelin Plate and a 4.7 Google rating from over 3,200 reviews, making it Raleigh's most…
Boeufhaus
Chicago, United States
Boeufhaus is one of Chicago's more defensible casual dinner bookings: OAD-ranked #269 in North America for 2025 and…
Obstinate Daughter
Sullivan's Island, United States
Obstinate Daughter is the most award-decorated restaurant on Sullivan's Island, holding a Michelin Plate and three…
Locanda Vini & Olii
New York City, United States
Locanda Vini & Olii is a Clinton Hill Italian restaurant ranked by Opinionated About Dining two years running…
Cafe Central
El Paso, United States
Cafe Central is El Paso's most credentialed dining room: an Opinionated About Dining-recommended American/French…
Hat Yai
Portland, United States
Hat Yai brings Southern Thai cooking to NE Portland with three consecutive years of Opinionated About Dining…
St. Jack
Portland, United States
St. Jack is Portland's most critically endorsed French bistro, with back-to-back Opinionated About Dining rankings and…
Asta
Boston, United States
Asta is a tasting-menu restaurant on a quiet Back Bay block with an OAD Gourmet Casual recommendation and a 4.4 Google…
Sushi on Jones
New York City, United States
Sushi on Jones is a credentialed Lower East Side counter with three consecutive years of Opinionated About Dining…
Kyu
Miami, United States
Kyu is worth choosing for a lively Wynwood dinner when shared Asian Fusion, group energy, and a casual-special mood…
Treadwell Farm to Table Cuisine
Toronto, Canada
Treadwell Farm to Table Cuisine in Niagara-on-the-Lake is the destination table for Toronto-area wine travellers…
Pinewood Social Club
Nashville, United States
An OAD-recognised Regional American kitchen in Nashville under chef Will Uhlhorn, Pinewood Social Club is the…
Verjus
San Francisco, United States
Verjus is Michael and Lindsay Tusk's French-bistro wine bar in Jackson Square, reopened in November 2024 and stronger…
Bar Goto
New York City, United States
Bar Goto on Eldridge Street is a Japanese-influenced cocktail bar with three consecutive years of Opinionated About…
La Petite Grocery
New Orleans, United States
A Michelin Plate winner and OAD-recommended Creole-American kitchen in the Garden District, La Petite Grocery delivers…
Don Angie
New York City, United States
Don Angie holds a Michelin star and ranks in Opinionated About Dining's Casual North America top 20, all at a $40–$65…
Fonda Fina
Mexico City, Mexico
Fonda Fina is one of Roma Norte's most consistently recognised casual Mexican restaurants, ranked #315 in OAD's Casual…
Lupa
New York City, United States
Lupa is one of downtown Manhattan's most consistent Italian restaurants — Michelin Plate recognised and ranked by…
Frances
San Francisco, United States
Frances is one of San Francisco's clearest value plays: chef-driven California cooking from Melissa Perello at a $$…
Higgins Restaurant & Bar
Portland, United States
One of Portland's most consistent New American restaurants, Higgins earns repeated Opinionated About Dining…
Little Bear
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Little Bear is a Michelin Plate-recognised Vietnamese Contemporary wine bar in Thảo Điền, with a Star Wine List White…
Frontera Grill
Chicago, United States
Rick Bayless's River North anchor earns its Michelin Bib Gourmand with technical depth on regional Mexican cuisine —…
Boqueria
New York City, United States
Boqueria is a reliable OAD-recognised tapas bar in Midtown West with consistent kitchen quality under chef Marc Vidal.…
Tasty N Alder
Portland, United States
Tasty N Alder is a good Portland pick when you want New American cooking with a drinks-friendly, downtown feel rather…
Foreign & Domestic
Austin, United States
Foreign & Domestic is worth choosing for a relaxed, chef-led New American dinner in Austin's North Loop, especially…
Sarma
Boston, United States
Chef Cassie Piuma's Turkish kitchen in Somerville has earned back-to-back Opinionated About Dining recognition and a…
Poole’s Downtown Diner
Raleigh, United States
Poole's Downtown Diner is Raleigh's most consequential restaurant — a Michelin Plate–recognized Southern kitchen from…
Charlie Bird
New York City, United States
Charlie Bird is a SoHo small plates restaurant with consistent Opinionated About Dining recognition (ranked #369…
L'Artusi
New York City, United States
L'Artusi is a Pearl Recommended Italian American restaurant in New York's West Village, ranked on Opinionated About…
The Four Horsemen
New York City, United States
The Four Horsemen is the benchmark natural wine restaurant in Brooklyn — two Michelin stars, a James Beard Award for…
Lasita
Los Angeles, United States
A smart Los Angeles pick for a relaxed date, small celebration, or easygoing dinner that still feels researched.…
Town
Honolulu, United States
Town is a practical Honolulu pick when you want chef-led New American cooking without turning dinner into a formal…
Nopa
San Francisco, United States
Nopa has run a daily-changing, farmer's market-driven New American menu from its Divisadero Street corner since 2006…
La Banane
Toronto, Canada
La Banane is one of Toronto's most consistent French bistros, holding Michelin Plate recognition in 2024 and 2025…
ABCV
New York City, United States
ABCV is the strongest plant-based option in Flatiron, operating under Jean-Georges Vongerichten's group with an OAD…
Love & Salt
Los Angeles, United States
Love & Salt is Manhattan Beach's most credible Italian option and one of the South Bay's few restaurants with…
Flour + Water
San Francisco, United States
Flour + Water is the Mission District's most credentialled Italian restaurant at the $$$ tier — Michelin Plate 2024…
Manhattan Beach Post
Los Angeles, United States
Manhattan Beach Post delivers globally influenced California cooking at the $$ price point, with OAD and Michelin…
Overview
The 2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining list for North America recognizes 51 restaurants across 20 cities in 5 countries. L'Artusi in New York City leads the list, followed by Tail Up Goat in Washington D.C. and Locanda Vini & Olii, also in New York. This edition represents a complete refresh from 2022, with all 51 venues appearing as new entrants.
This 2023 edition marks a significant shift in the OAD Gourmet Casual category for North America. The entire list turned over from the previous year; none of the 118 venues from 2022 returned, including former top-ranked Rote Wand Chef's Table. The current list of 51 restaurants spans 20 cities across the United States, Canada, three other countries. New York City dominates representation with multiple venues in the top 10, including L'Artusi, Locanda Vini & Olii, ABCV, Don Angie, Lupa. The geographic spread extends from Sullivan's Island to Portland to Toronto, reflecting OAD's recalibration of what defines gourmet casual dining across the continent.
The 2023 OAD Gourmet Casual list for North America underwent a complete overhaul. All 51 recognized restaurants are new to this edition; the previous year's 118 venues, led by Rote Wand Chef's Table, dropped out entirely. L'Artusi now leads the category, with New York City claiming five of the top ten spots. The list spans 20 cities across 5 countries, from Sullivan's Island's Obstinate Daughter to Toronto's La Banane. This wholesale change suggests either a category redefinition or a significant shift in OAD's North American reviewer base and voting patterns.
Quick Facts
- Total Restaurants
- 51
- Countries
- 5
- Cities
- 20
- Top-Ranked
- L'Artusi (New York City)
- NYC Restaurants in Top 10
- 5
- Retained from 2022
- 0
- New Entrants
- 51
About This Edition
This edition represents one of the most dramatic year-over-year changes in OAD's regional lists. With zero venues retained from 2022 and 51 entirely new entrants, the 2023 Gourmet Casual North America list essentially started from scratch. The previous edition featured 118 restaurants, meaning the list also contracted by more than half. New York City establishes clear dominance in the top 10, holding five positions: L'Artusi at the top, followed by Locanda Vini & Olii, ABCV, Don Angie, Lupa. Washington D.C.'s Tail Up Goat takes second place. The geographic representation extends to smaller markets like Sullivan's Island, South Carolina (Obstinate Daughter) and includes international entries from Toronto (La Banane). The complete turnover raises questions about methodology changes or voter participation shifts between editions. Rote Wand Chef's Table, the 2022 leader, disappeared along with every other previously recognized venue. Whether this reflects evolving definitions of "gourmet casual" or a restructured voting panel, the 2023 list effectively presents a fresh perspective on approachable dining across North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which restaurant leads the 2023 OAD Gourmet Casual North America list?
How many restaurants are on the 2023 list?
How does the 2023 list compare to 2022?
Which cities have the most representation in the top 10?
How many of these have you visited?
Find out on Pearl and keep score across every place in 2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Recommended.